Jarrod Lienert wants to keep his AFL dream alive after being delisted by St Kilda.
The tall defender was picked up as a pre-season supplemental selection and managed 11 games in the red, white and black in 2022.
Despite proving he is a solid contributor at senior level last campaign, Lienert was let go by the Saints on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old reflects on his time at Moorabbin as a positive experience but now hopes to receive an AFL lifeline.
“That’s what I’m after (a lifeline), I’m hoping to keep the AFL dream alive for as long as possible,” Lienert said on SEN SA The Run Home.
“It’s disappointing for it all to be over, but I reflect on the year being really good to get out there, play in some wins and contribute to the club.”
While Lienert’s departure follows Brett Ratten’s sacking, the tall defender doesn’t believe the decision on his future was connected to the call on who the club's coach will be in 2023.
“I sort of found out that it was sort of looking this way a couple of weeks ago when he (Ratten) was still appointed,” Lienert said.
“I’m not sure how that played out, to be honest, but I’m not sure that impacted the decision much, it’s probably more that Nick Coffield is coming back from his knee injury and he was effectively the guy I replaced
“By the sounds of it, they want to get some younger guys some game time, being a 28-year-old player like I am I probably fell into the wrong category.”
Now a delisted free agent, Lienert says his manager has given him some positive reports that his AFL career could continue with four clubs showing an interest in his services.
“My manager called yesterday with some okay news that there’s a bit of a pulse potentially for next year, that keeps me alive a little bit more,” Lienert said.
“I suppose I had to wait until about February last year until the news came through with the Saints.
“When he said four teams were still keen or whatever, I was a bit surprised … that’s all very up in the air, I’m not sure what the go is.
“But I’m looking forward to whatever is next I guess, whether that’s hopefully getting back onto an AFL list and keeping the AFL dream alive or getting onto the next stage of my life.”
Lienert has 34 career games to his name since making his debut for the Power in 2018.
He averaged 14.2 disposals and 4.7 marks from his 11 games in 2022.